Former IPL honcho enjoyed patronage under UPA regime too

This is not the first time that Lalit Modi has courted controversy due to his proximity to the high and mighty. During the previous UPA regime, two officials from the Finance Ministry M <g data-gr-id="17">Sailo</g> and HV Mahanta, then responsible for investigation of sensitive cases, had traveled to London to meet Modi on a “personal visit” but their travel was funded from the department’s secret funds. <g data-gr-id="18">Sailo</g> at that time was director general of investigations and Mahanta, Commissioner investigations.

Breaking the story on May 14, 2012, Millennium Post had also reported that that during the meeting a former member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) was also present in the meeting as Modi’s adviser. The meeting raised <g data-gr-id="21">eye-brows</g> and invited <g data-gr-id="19">attention</g> of R&AW officials as the income tax department had opened a case against Modi in 2010 for tax evasion and money laundering to the tune of Rs 700 crore.

What bothered the intelligence officials most was the fact that soon after the visit it was discovered that eight lakh UK pounds (approximately INR 40 crore), was transferred from London to another foreign bank account. The intelligence agencies till date have kept under wraps the details of the transaction, which could have helped track Lalit Modi’s connections. Incidentally investigating wing of the income tax department, after opening Modi’s case, sought permission to interrogate him in London almost one and a half years ago. But, that request was turned down by the CBDT as well as the law ministry and the Enforcement Directorate. According to them, any statement recorded in the UK would not have any legal validity under Indian law.